What’s that you’re doing, Mr. Elzer?

“I’m repairing a load-bearing section of an aircraft engine called the turbine rear frame. I mill out potentially damaged parts and weld in new studs. This is routine work for the most part. Engines, along with their various components, are overhauled every four years. I’m a qualified welding specialist for engine cowlings, for which I had to familiarize myself with various welding techniques and various different materials. We rarely weld regular steel. Instead, we use various different methods and different nickel, cobalt and titanium alloys, depending on the component. Every alloy has its own melting point, reacts differently and requires specialist know-how. So once the damage has been repaired, we put the part through a series of technical tests – x-ray it, for example – just to make sure.”